American Hip Hop Stars You Didn't Know Were Gamblers

If you often listen to rap and hip-hop music, you probably know that artists often address the gambling topic in their songs. They glorify it, inspired by the atmosphere and aesthetics of expensive casinos and big jackpots. However, many American celebrities who like to gamble not only sing about poker or casinos but also use their gambling experiences to write captivating lyrics.

USA online casinos are open to everyone, regardless of whether you are a small company employee or a hip-hop star with a million-strong audience and global labels. So, let’s look at the passionate gambling fans who shape music world trends.

Before we jump right into the list of hip-hop stars who often like to place multiple bets, let’s look at the following question: “What makes celebrities choose gambling for leisure?” The answer is simple and obvious:

• Easy relaxation. This is a great format to relax and just watch the random outcome.
• A sense of risk and a desire to win. Celebrities also want not only to relax with a pleasant hobby but also to “tickle their nerves”: to feel the proper risk and fight for valuable prizes.
• Big winnings. Celebrities don’t start betting to win money and enrich their wealth. However, this factor also impacts as everyone wants to experience that euphoric moment after hitting a big jackpot.

Besides, gambling vacations also bring additional inspiration. The atmosphere makes performers write new songs. That’s why we often hear casino references in our favourite ones. Anyway, below you will find the list of American hip-hop celebrities who like gambling. The list is not full, but it features some names that catch our ears on a nearly daily basis.

Sean Combs, known by stage names as Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, or Diddy, is among the most iconic American rappers and producers. He already got three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards.

People also know the rapper for his gambling passion. The singer often chooses blackjack because he feels skilled in this card discipline. P Diddy’s fans even assumed that the singer liked to hold several gambling sessions in his dressing room before the concert. Sean doesn’t hide his hobby, often acting as a game ambassador and attending leading blackjack tournaments.

The American rapper Nelly is also a fan of quality gambling, but he chooses classic poker among all the available disciplines and slot machines. The singer, who is best known for his hits “Hot in Herre,” “Ride Wit Me,” “Just a Dream,” and “Dilemma”, regularly visits land-based poker clubs and participates in relevant tournaments. Nelly is a poker player and used to participate in such poker tournaments as the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. He thinks it’s an excellent way to have fun and enjoy. 

Of course, the article about gambling hip-hop celebrities would not be complete without 50 Cent. He is a hard-core gambler known to have made bets that could probably be compared to the budget of a small town. This is especially true for sports events. For example, 50 Cent placed an astonishing bet of $1.6 million on Floyd Mayweather, when the latter was fighting with Manny Pacquiao. Another notorious bet (we are not sure whether it was a joke or not) implied that Floyd must have read a chapter from Harry Potter without stuttering.

The American rapper Jeffery Lamar Williams, also known as Young Thug, remarkably influenced modern trends formation. But he also considers himself a devoted gambling fan. You could even hear stories about how the rapper’s team constantly looks after him to prevent spending too much. One of the star’s favourite games is craps, which he often plays with friends. Nevertheless, the “most influential rapper of the 21st century” chooses other gambling disciplines and is unafraid to play big. For example, in 2021, Young Thug visited a Las Vegas casino and left $800,000 there. So, as you can see, even stars can lose big.

One of the most famous contemporary rappers comes from Canada. Drake became famous immediately after his first album, Thank Me Later. However, music is not the only thing he fences. Fans often see him in land-based casinos, especially in the “city of big lights and big wins” Las Vegas.

What Drake is so skillfully hunting for is the thrill and real emotions that gambling can offer, whether it’s blackjack, themed slot machines, roulette, or classic poker. Last year, Drake won millions after placing a lucky bet on two UFC matches. As a gambling venue, gambling allows the singer to relax, unwind, and find inspiration for further creativity.

As you can see, there is a considerable number of hip-hop stars who are not strangers to the thrill of gambling, and apparently, this list can get much longer. We all have heard the songs by 50 Cent, Nelly, or other artists mentioned above, and if someone wondered about the inspiration sources for the lyrics that featured gambling, they now know the answer.